Numbers 31:47
Numbers 31:47 in Multiple Translations
From the Israelites’ half, Moses took one out of every fifty persons and animals and gave them to the Levites who kept charge of the tabernacle of the LORD, as the LORD had commanded him.
Even of the children of Israel’s half, Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.
even of the children of Israel’s half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, that kept the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
Even from the children of Israel's half, Moses took one out of every fifty, men and beasts, and gave them to the Levites who had the care of the House of the Lord; as the Lord gave orders to Moses.
Moses took from the Israelites' half one out of every fifty people and animals and gave them to the Levites who take care of the Lord's Tabernacle, as the Lord had ordered him.
Moses, I say, tooke of the halfe that perteined vnto the children of Israel, one taken out of fiftie, both of the persons, and of the cattell, and gaue them vnto the Leuites, which haue the charge of the Tabernacle of the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Moses taketh from the sons of Israel's half the one possession from the fifty, of man and of beast, and giveth them to the Levites keeping the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.
even of the children of Israel’s half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animal, and gave them to the Levites, who performed the duty of the LORD’s tabernacle, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Even of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them to the Levites, who kept the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Moses took the fiftieth head, and gave it to the Levites that watched in the tabernacle of the Lord, as the Lord had commanded.
From what the people received, Moses/I took one from every 50 items and dedicated them to Yahweh. That included animals and people. As Yahweh commanded, he/I gave them all to the descendants of Levi who took care of the Sacred Tent.
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 31:47
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Numbers 31:47 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 31:47
Study Notes — Numbers 31:47
Context — Division of the Spoils
47From the Israelites’ half, Moses took one out of every fifty persons and animals and gave them to the Levites who kept charge of the tabernacle of the LORD, as the LORD had commanded him.
48Then the officers who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and of hundreds—approached Moses 49and said, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one of us is missing.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 31:30 | From the Israelites’ half, take one out of every fifty, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep, or other animals, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.” |
| 2 | Luke 10:1–8 | After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit. And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road. Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house. If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you. |
| 3 | Isaiah 56:10–11 | Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber. Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: |
| 4 | 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 | But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction. In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 12:17–19 | Within your gates you must not eat the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, the firstborn of your herds or flocks, any of the offerings that you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. Instead, you must eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates. Rejoice before the LORD your God in all you do, and be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land. |
| 6 | Psalms 134:1 | Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD! |
| 7 | Numbers 18:21–24 | Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting. No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die. The Levites are to perform the work of the Tent of Meeting, and they must bear their iniquity. This is a permanent statute for the generations to come. The Levites will not receive an inheritance among the Israelites. For I have given to the Levites as their inheritance the tithe that the Israelites present to the LORD as a contribution. That is why I told them that they would not receive an inheritance among the Israelites.” |
Numbers 31:47 Summary
In this verse, Moses is taking some of the spoils from the Israelites' victory and giving them to the Levites to support them in their ministry. This is similar to the concept of tithing, where we give a portion of our income to support God's work, as mentioned in Leviticus 27:30-32. By giving to support God's work, we are showing our obedience to God's commands and our trust in His provision, as seen in Malachi 3:10 and Matthew 6:33. We can apply this principle to our own lives by giving to support our churches and ministries, and trusting that God will provide for our needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Moses take one out of every fifty persons and animals from the Israelites' half?
Moses took one out of every fifty persons and animals from the Israelites' half to give to the Levites, as the Lord had commanded him, in order to support the Levites who kept charge of the tabernacle of the Lord, as seen in Numbers 31:47 and supported by the concept of supporting those who minister in the church, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:13-14.
What was the purpose of giving these persons and animals to the Levites?
The purpose of giving these persons and animals to the Levites was to support them in their ministry, as they were responsible for keeping charge of the tabernacle of the Lord, and this is similar to the New Testament principle of supporting those who preach the gospel, as mentioned in 1 Timothy 5:17-18.
How does this verse relate to the concept of tithing in the Bible?
This verse relates to the concept of tithing in that it shows how the Israelites were required to give a portion of their spoils to support the Levites, similar to the concept of tithing mentioned in Leviticus 27:30-32 and Malachi 3:10, where the Israelites were required to give a tenth of their income to support the Levites and the poor.
What can we learn from Moses' obedience to the Lord's command in this verse?
We can learn from Moses' obedience to the Lord's command in this verse that obedience to God's commands is crucial, even when it may seem difficult or unpopular, as seen in Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 11:1, and this is still applicable today, as mentioned in John 14:15 and 1 John 2:3-4.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can support those who minister in my church or community, as the Israelites supported the Levites?
- How can I apply the principle of giving to support God's work, as seen in this verse, to my own life and finances?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to be more obedient to God's commands, as Moses was in this verse?
- How can I balance the desire to keep what I have with the need to give to support God's work, as the Israelites had to balance in this verse?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 31:47
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 31:47
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 31:47
Sermons on Numbers 31:47
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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How to Identify the Enemy - Part 1 by Derek Prince | In this sermon, Derek Prince discusses the basics of deliverance and how to identify the enemy. He emphasizes that the ministry of Jesus serves as the ultimate example and should n |
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(Exodus) Exodus 18:13-27 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of Moses and his father-in-law, Jethro. Jethro observes Moses working tirelessly to judge the people and suggests that Moses lighten |
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Our Relationship With Christ by J. Oswald Sanders | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of seeking intimacy with God. He uses the example of Joshua, who sought the presence of God in the tent and was able to ascend |
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Fren-11 Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker announces that the community issues a newsletter to stay connected with the audience and share the burden of the Lord. The speaker then introduces the m |
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+Pc the China Challenge by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker shares their experience of visiting China and witnessing the poverty that still exists in the country. They also highlight the government's efforts to p |
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(The Role of Demons in Today's Society) Part 3 by Dean Hochstetler | In this sermon, the speaker begins by discussing how we come to know God. He then expresses his concern about the number of Christians who do not truly understand their identity in |
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The Faithfulness of a Co-Worker by Theodore Andoseh | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the faithfulness of a co-worker, using Joshua 11:15 as a reference. The speaker emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's instructions a |







